Robotic Trolley Alignment for Tracker Solar Panel Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning solar panel devices are inefficient, particularly for tracker type solar panels, as they require precise alignment and movement coordination to avoid damage and ensure effective cleaning, especially on movable and deformable terrain.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system is designed to provide a surface cleaning device to solar panel devices, capable of measuring spatial relationships, aligning with solar panels in varying tilt angles, and moving safely across different terrains, including sand, while minimizing the risk of damage to the solar panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated surface cleaning device is allocated per solar panel device, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single robotic system is designed to serve multiple solar panel devices sequentially. The robotic trolley can transport different cleaning robots to different solar panel devices, allowing one multi-functional system to replace multiple dedicated cleaning systems, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system incorporates dynamic positioning and adaptation capabilities to handle varying tilt angles of tracker-type solar panels. The system can adjust its position and the cleaning robot's orientation in real-time to match the solar panel's current state, ensuring effective cleaning without requiring dedicated fixed infrastructure for each panel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cleaning is performed on tracker type solar panels with varying tilt angles, then cleaning coverage is improved, but alignment precision and safety decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that continuously monitor the solar panel's tilt angle and position. This feedback enables the system to dynamically adjust its movement and the cleaning robot's orientation to maintain precise alignment with the panel surface, ensuring safe and effective cleaning across varying angles.
Solution Approach 2:
Before the cleaning operation begins, the system performs preliminary positioning and alignment actions. The robotic trolley positions itself and the cleaning robot in advance, adjusting to the solar panel's current tilt angle and configuration, thereby establishing precise alignment before cleaning commences to prevent damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cleaning operations are performed on movable terrain, then accessibility to solar panels is improved, but system stability and safety worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic trolley is designed with specialized mobility features adapted to specific terrain conditions. It incorporates wheels or tracks with properties optimized for sand and deformable surfaces, allowing stable movement across movable terrain while maintaining system stability during cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates stabilization mechanisms and control algorithms that anticipate and compensate for terrain variability. Before moving across deformable terrain, the system prepares by adjusting its center of gravity, activating stabilization features, and planning movement paths that minimize disturbance, thereby maintaining stability despite the challenging environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system for providing a surface cleaning device to a solar panel device, the robotic system may include (a) a drive unit that is configured to move the robotic system in relation to the solar panel device; (b) a support unit that comprises guiding elements, the guiding elements are configured to support the surface cleaning device; wherein the guiding elements comprise a first guiding element and a second guiding element; (c) an alignment unit that is configured to align, during an alignment process, the first guiding element and the second guiding element with the solar panel device; (d) sensing units that comprises a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit; wherein the first sensing unit is configured to sense a first spatial relationship between the first guiding element and a first portion of the solar panel device; wherein the second sensing unit is configured to sense a spatial relationship.